A Study on Agro-Hybrid Farm Vehicle with Small Onboard Solar Photovoltaic for Herbicide Spraying in Oil Palm Plantation

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the performance of the agro-hybrid system incorporated in a utility farm vehicle for herbicide spraying in oil palm plantation operation. The novelty of the study lies in the proposed system and also methods to assess its performance. The study started with a simulation method using HOMER software after significant consideration of the prototype design, energy generation and utilisation has been identified. The result indicates that the energy requirement for herbicide spraying can be met by the system for the entire day operation without a capacity shortage. Thus, laboratory and infield test were implemented. The test provides excellent results in term of farm productivity, and the system could maintain the battery state of charge condition within an optimum level. Even though the contribution of the renewable energy source is small, but the incorporation of the hybrid power structure and photovoltaic eliminate the requirement of additional fossil fuel power. Thus, a cleaner energy system for oil palm mechanisation could improve the sustainability of oil palm plantation operation in Malaysia.